North Korea’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, was notably absent from the tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Monday, commemorating the birthday of the late Kim Jong Il, former Chairman of the National Defense Commission. Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, also skipped the event. This has fueled speculation on Wednesday that Choe and Kim may have been engaged in high-level discussions regarding North Korea’s new foreign policy direction, as established at the recent 9th Party Congress.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published photos on Tuesday documenting the tribute by party and government officials at the Kumsusan Palace. Notably, Choe was not visible in these images.
The Monday tribute was attended by a roster of high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Pak Thae-song, Choe Ryong-hae (Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly), Jo Yong-won (Party Organizational Secretary), Kim Tok-hun (Party Economic Secretary), and several other senior party members. Choe’s absence stood out among this gathering of top brass.
In contrast, Choe was prominently visible during previous high-profile events. These include Kim’s January visit to the Kumsusan Palace with his daughter Ju Ae and wife Ri Sol-ju, as well as the December tribute marking the anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death. On those occasions, Choe was positioned at the forefront of the procession, directly behind Kim.
While the exact reason for Choe’s absence from this recent tribute remains unclear, analysts suggest that her shared itinerary with Kim could provide valuable insights.
According to Rodong Sinmun, Choe and Kim attended the completion ceremony for a major housing project in the Hwasong area on Monday, coinciding with the day of the tribute. Both Rodong Sinmun and Korean Central Television showed footage of Choe accompanying Kim alongside other officials, indicating that her absence from the Kumsusan tribute was not due to health issues or foreign travel.
Experts posit that Choe and Kim may have been engaged in separate, high-priority tasks, distinguishing them from other officials.
North Korea is expected to unveil a new foreign policy direction at the upcoming 9th Party Congress, scheduled for later this month. This could include revised strategies or messages aimed at South Korea and the U.S., prompting close monitoring from international observers.
The party congress is anticipated to commence within the next 3 to 4 days. North Korean media reported that delegates from across the country arrived in Pyongyang on February 16, with a credential presentation ceremony held on Tuesday, signaling the imminent start of the congress.
Given these circumstances, experts believe that Kim may have held private meetings with Choe to finalize the details of the new foreign policy direction.
The Workers’ Party Congress, which will chart the nation’s course for the next five years, is regarded as one of the most authoritative events since Kim assumed power.
Kim convened the 7th Party Congress in 2016, five years into his leadership, marking the first such gathering in 36 years since the 6th Congress in 1980. This event was pivotal in solidifying Kim’s party-centered governance system, contrasting with his father Kim Jong Il’s approach, which favored the National Defense Commission and less frequent party meetings.
The upcoming congress may include concrete measures, such as formally incorporating North Korea’s recent declaration of two hostile states with South Korea into the party charter. Additionally, observers anticipate potential announcements regarding Kim’s stance on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s dialogue proposals or shifts in North Korea’s overall approach to U.S. relations.